[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 82 (Friday, April 28, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20975-20976]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-10489]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report for a Permit Application for Proposed 
Activities at Playa Vista, Los Angeles County, CA

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is considering an 
application for Section 404 and Section 10 permits to (1) conduct 
dredge and fill activities to implement restoration of the Ballona Salt 
Marsh and (2) construct a marina or other saltwater boating facility 
and an adjacent mixed use (residential/commercial/visitor serving) 
community (marina).
    The primary Federal concern is the dredging and discharging of 
materials within waters of the United States, including wetlands and 
potential significant impacts on the human environment. Therefore, in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Corps 
is requiring the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
prior to consideration of any permit action. The Corps may ultimately 
make a determination to permit or deny either or both items (1) and (2) 
above, or permit or deny modified versions of items (1) and (2) above.
    Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the 
City of Los Angeles will serve as Lead Agency for the preparation of an 
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for its consideration of development 
approvals within its jurisdiction. The County of Los Angeles will serve 
as a Responsible Agency under CEQA and will use the EIR for 
consideration of project approvals within its jurisdiction. The Corps 
and the City have agreed to jointly prepare a Draft EIS/EIR in order to 
optimize efficiency and avoid duplication. The Draft EIS/EIR is 
intended to be sufficient in scope to address both the Federal and the 
state and local requirements and environmental issues concerning the 
proposed activities and permit approvals.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Engineer District, Los Angeles, Regulatory Branch, 
ATTN: File Number 95-0212-CSC, P.O. Box 2711, Los Angeles, California 
90012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Phone message or questions will be 
handled at 213-485-8009.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Project Site

    The proposed project is located near Marina del Rey. The salt marsh 
restoration activities are planned for a portion of the project area 
known as Area B which is located within the City of Los Angeles. The 
marina development is planned for an adjacent portion of the project 
known as Area A within an unincorporated portion of the County of Los 
Angeles. The area proposed for salt marsh restoration is located in the 
remnant portions of the once extensive Ballona Salt Marsh. The proposed 
marina site is located within an area containing extensive fill 
resulting from previous Marina del Rey and flood control construction 
projects.

Proposed Action

    The project applicant, Maguire Thomas Partners (MTP), proposes to 
restore a 190 acre salt marsh system within a substantially undeveloped 
area containing approximately 154 acres of existing degraded wetlands. 
Establishment of this proposed salt marsh system will include three 
actions: (1) Enhancement of the western portion of existing wetlands by 
reestablishing tidal flows to a mid-tidal regime; (2) restoration of 
the eastern portion of the wetlands by reestablishing tidal flow to a 
full tidal regime and (3) creation of new wetlands from existing 
uplands. The proposed project includes the construction of culverts 
providing access to tidal flows within the Ballona Channel. The 
proposed project also involves the widening of Culvert Boulevard to 
meet regional transportation demand.
    It is further proposed that a water oriented mixed use community be 
constructed in Area A on 138.6 acres of substantially undeveloped 
property separated from the salt marsh restoration project by the 
Ballona Channel. This development would include a 48 acre marina, 2,576 
residential units, 450 hotel rooms, 125,000 square feet of office 
space, [[Page 20976]] 75,000 square feet of community serving uses and 
75,000 square feet of visitor serving retail uses. The proposed marina 
would accommodate up to 700 boat ships with access to Santa Monica Bay 
via a new entrance channel to the main channel of Marina del Rey. This 
Channel would be approximately 200 feet wide and excavated to a depth 
of -16 feet MSL. This proposed development would result in the dredge 
and/or fill of 9.8 acres of degraded wetlands, 4.8 acres of which would 
be within the footprint of the proposed marina.

Issues

    There are several potential environmental issues that will be 
addressed in the EIS/EIR. Additional issues may be identified during 
the scoping process. Issues initially identified as potentially 
significant include:
    1. Geological issues including subsidence, seismic concerns and 
landform alternation.
    2. Impacts to surface and groundwater hydrology and water quality.
    3. Potential impacts to terrestrial, aquatic and marine biological 
resources.
    4. Impacts to prehistoric and historic cultural resources.
    5. Impacts to air quality.
    6. Traffic and transportation related impacts.
    7. Potential noise impacts.
    8. Land use impacts.
    9. Impacts to public utilities and services.
    10. Socioeconomic impacts including population, housing and 
infrastructure costs and benefits.
    11. Impact to aesthetic resources.
    12. Potential impacts on public health and safety.
    13. Cumulative impacts.

Alternatives

    Several alternatives are being considered for restoration of the 
Ballona Salt Marsh as well as alternatives to the marina proposal. 
These alternatives will be further formulated and developed during the 
scoping process. In addition to the No Action Alternative (no 
restoration), two other alternatives for salt marsh restoration have 
been identified. These are a full tidal restoration for the entire 
restoration area and a muted tidal restoration for the entire 
restoration area. In addition, the EIS/EIR will consider alternatives 
to the Ballona Channel as a source of salt water for the restoration. 
The EIS/EIR will also consider alternatives to the proposed widening of 
Culver Boulevard.
    A range of alternatives to the marina proposal will be considered 
in the EIS/EIR. These alternatives will include other saltwater boating 
facility alternatives with or without a marina feature as well as other 
wetland alternatives and the No Act Alternative.

Scoping Process

    A public meeting will be held to receive public comment and assess 
public concern regarding the appropriate scope and preparation of the 
Draft EIS/EIR. Participation in the public meeting by federal, state 
and local agencies and other interested organizations and persons is 
encouraged.
    The Corps of Engineers will also be consulting with the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act and Fish and 
Wildlife Coordination Act, and with the State Office of Historic 
Preservation under the National Historic Preservation Act. 
Additionally, the EIS/EIR will assess the consistency of the proposed 
Action with the Coastal Zone Management Act, as well as executive 
orders on wetlands and floodplain protection.
    The public scoping meeting for the Draft EIS/EIR will be held at 
the Airport Marina Hotel, 8601 Lincoln Boulevard, Los Angeles, 
California on June 7, 1995. Two sessions, one beginning at 2:00 p.m. 
and the other starting at 7:00 p.m. are scheduled. Written comments 
will be received until June 21, 1995.

Availability of the Draft EIS

    The Draft EIS is expected to be published and circulated in April 
of 1996, and a Public Hearing will be held after its publication.
Juanita H. Maberry,
Alternate Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 95-10489 Filed 4-27-95; 8:45 am]
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